MINING, HEALTH, AND SOCIETY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS IN KAZAKHSTAN AND JAPAN

This study compares occupational incidents in the mining industries of Kazakhstan and Japan from 2018 to 2023. Kazakhstan’s rising workplace accidents, particularly in coal mining, highlight deficiencies in safety management despite adopting global standards. In contrast, Japan benefits from advanced safety technologies and stringent protocols, resulting in significantly lower incident rates. The study analyses trends in incident types, such as falls and machinery-related injuries, using harmonized injury classifications. Findings reveal regulatory weaknesses and underreporting in Kazakhstan, while Japan faces challenges with aging infrastructure and disaster preparedness. The research emphasizes Kazakhstan’s need to enhance legal frameworks, training, and safety culture, while Japan must address infrastructure-related risks. Recommendations for both countries focus on improving occupational safety systems to meet international standards, providing key insights for policy reform in high-risk industries such as mining.